Page 101 of Compelled Obedience

Dirty. If I had to guess, I’d say Drago was dead after leading Randolph to the millions of dollars of missing money. Or maybe the good sergeant had been forced to sit on the cash given the sensitivity of how it was lost. It was also possible with the lie being exposed at the prison, he felt backed into a corner. It was now or never to use the money.

But not before tying up loose ends.

I’d always known everyone had a price. Money and the thought of instant wealth made people do crazy things. I’d seen it inside my club. I’d experienced it when men were suddenly pushed into the limelight. And hell, I’d almost fallen into a black hole myself more than a couple of times. When the lines of right versus wrong became blurred, it was almost impossible to refocus.

I glanced at Lachlan who shook his head.

We had our answer. My warning I’d thought had gone unheeded hadn’t.

The person responsible had taken me at my word.

The pieces were falling into place and the only person who could link the detective turned sergeant turned vigilante Colton Randolph to a crime of greed was Kerri.

“Do you know where we can find Sergeant Randolph?” I asked as I turned my full attention to the kid.

“Yeah. I think I do. I followed him one night just to know what the fuck I was dealing with.”

“Smart kid. No wonder Ms. Bettington believes in you. Tell me everything you know and I promise I will get you out of this shit but you gotta trust me.”

Sanchez took a few seconds. Then he nodded. “You gotta keep her safe, man. She doesn’t deserve this shit. I know she’s got a kid to take care of now.”

“Oh, I plan on it.”

He told us everything he knew and I gave him money to take his family to a hotel for a few days, insisting he head to the other side of town.

Minutes later, I jumped into the car, gunning the engine immediately.

“You can’t go off halfcocked with the information,” Lachlan said.

“Like hell I can’t.” Tonight, I’d cross the line one last time. But if she survived, I’d turn over a new leaf.

Unless another asshole dared try to hurt her.

I roared away from the curb, yanking my phone into my hand. Then I dialed the marshal.

“Palmer. I have news,” I told him as soon as he answered the phone.

“So do I,” Marshal Palmer said. “And you’re not gonna like it.”

* * *

Kerri

“I did what you wanted, Colton. I’m not going any further. You’re crazy. The money isn’t worth it.”

I opened my eyes, trying to understand what was happening. My head throbbed, agony coursing down the back of my neck. The voice. Elizabeth. The last thing I remembered was seeing a gun pointed at my head. Then…

She’d hit me. She’d knocked me out. There was no other explanation. I shifted, a wash of nausea rushing into my system. My mouth was cotton dry, my breathing coming in shallow pants. When I tried to move, I realized that my arms were tied behind my back by rope. Panic skittered through me, enough that I was shaking.

Breathe. Just breathe. You need to stay calm.

“We’re almost finished. Then we’re home free.” The deep voice cut through the terror, adding a fog around me.

Colton Randolph. His voice was easily recognizable. I almost moaned, giving away the fact I was listening, but managed to suck in my breath. Then I tried to turn slightly without my movements being detected, blinking several times until I could focus. I was in a hotel room somewhere. By the looks of it, the sergeant had obviously been in town for some time.

“I don’t like this, Colton. I didn’t sign up for kidnapping. You didn’t tell me that you were going to hurt that girl. She isn’t your enemy. You said she didn’t know anything.”

“Yeah, well, she has evidence of what she witnessed. It’ll only be a matter of time until they figure out I killed almost everyone involved.”

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